Approach to Northern Ireland

From 1993, what type of messages did the govt receive ?

Secret messages hinting that Sinn Fein was ready to discuss a peace agreement

Give the view point of unionists and republicans on this

Unionists - fear of being sold out by the British

Republicans - deep rooted hostility to the British

Why was it useful that a Conservative leader took the first steps of the peace process

A labour leader may have found it easy to get the trust of the republicans, but may have struggled against a Conservative and unionist backlash.

Which Irish leader did Major get along with

Taoiseach Albert Reynolds

Which US president also encouraged peace

Bill Clinton

When was Major and Reynolds’ joint Downing Street Declaration

1993

In what year did the IRA announce a ceasefire, and what matched

1994, loyalists also held a ceasefire

What did the unionists not believe

Didn’t believe in the IRA’s commitment to peace

Give 3 places where IRA bombs damaged, despite peace process

Financial district of Canary Wharf, London, centre of Manchester 1996.